Holocaust Commission Expanding

A new state law will expand the state’s commission on the Holocaust. The Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission will increase in size from 18 to 22 members under the legislation sponsored by State Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago). Silverstein says one of the goals of the expansion is educating younger Illinoisans.

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“This bill expands the board and more importantly, it adds a student to this commission, which I think is very important,” Silverstein said. “Young people should get involved, young people should know what happened in the past so we don’t repeat our mistakes in the future.”

The commission was created in 2010.

Illinois already requires public school curriculums to include Holocaust education, and was the first state to pass such a mandate in 1990.